Иностранный язык в сфере юриспруденции. Учебно-методическое пособие по английскому языку

5. A) Look at the table with modal verbs and their meanings. Then find more examples with modal verbs in the text.

B) Translate the sentences from Russian into English.

1.Федеральный закон должен защищать потребителя от нечестной торговли.

2.Он обязан устанавливать стандарты на качество, безопасность и надежность товаров и услуг.

3.Продавцу нельзя представлять ложную рекламу, устанавливать несправедливые цены или неправильную маркировку.

4.Покупателю всегда следует проверять товары перед покуп-

кой.

5.Инвалиды должны иметь равный доступ к товарам и услу-

гам.

6.Правительство должно учреждать организации, которые помогут потребителям защитить их права.

7.Продавец должен предоставлять потребителю список ингредиентов и информацию о калорийности.

8.Потребитель может вернуть товар, если он неудовлетворен его качеством.

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9. Владельцы бизнеса обязаны использовать все допустимые средства (приспособления), чтобы обеспечить инвалидам равный доступ к товарам и услугам.

6. Prepare the retelling of the text, paying attention to the main concepts of the text and their definitions.

Text 7

Taking your Case to Court (Present Perfect)

1. Find out the meaning of the following words.

Criminal court, civil court, legal services, take you case to court, to sue, to prosecute, jail term.

2. Read and translate the text.

Suppose you can’t settle your complaint and a consumer agency has been unable to help. Sometimes your complaint may form the basis for a criminal action against the seller. Furthermore, whether or not a crime is involved, you may wish to take your case to civil court. Anyone can go to court. Minors can sue through their parents or guardians.

Criminal Court. In some cases, a seller’s action may be a crime. Such acts can be prosecuted as criminal fraud. Criminal fraud occurs when a salesperson knowingly misstates or misrepresents some important fact, with the intent to defraud you, resulting in harm.

For example, assume your contract with a builder to construct a deck on your home. You pay the builder several thousand dollars to purchase the necessary materials. However, the builder doesn’t intend to build the deck. He simply uses the scheme to take your money. In such a case, you are the victim of a crime. You should contact the police or your local prosecutor. Cases like this can be prosecuted by the government in criminal court. State laws not only provide a fine or jail term (or both) for a convicted defendant but may also require that the defendant pay back the defrauded consumer.

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Civil court. If a civil dispute involves a large amount of money, the case will be brought into the local civil trial court. Taking a case to court can be costly and time-consuming. In some places, though, free or low-cost legal services may be available to consumers who cannot afford an attorney.

In civil court you can ask for a number of different remedies. First, you can sue for damages, money that a court orders paid to a person who has suffered a loss or an injury. For example, if you are injured by a defective power drill, you can ask for money for a new drill, medical expenses, time lost from your job, and other related costs.

A second remedy is rescission and restitution. When you ask the court for this remedy, you ask it to cancel the contract (rescission) and order the person you are suing to give back any money you have already paid (restitution). This releases you from any further performance under the contract, but you will have to return any benefit already received under the contract. Assume, for example, that you sign a contract to purchase a set of pots and pans and that a pan melts the first time it is exposed to a direct flame. In such a case, you might seek rescission and restitution. You would get your money back and would have no further obligations under the contract. However, you would have to return the pots and pans.

The third civil remedy is specific performance. Here, you ask the court to order the seller to carry out the specific terms of the agreement. For example, if you ordered goods that were never delivered, the court could order the company to deliver the goods. However, you would still have to pay for them.

A Suit for damages or specific performance is designed to place you in approximately the position you would have been in if the contract had been successfully completed. A suit for rescission and restitution is designed to return both the buyer and the seller to the positions they were in before the contract began.

3. Find the equivalents for the following words and expressions in the text.

Мошенничество, преднамеренно неверно представлять, использовать махинацию с целью получить ваши деньги, срок тю-

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ремного заключения, дорогостоящий и отнимающий много времени, бесплатные или недорогие юридические услуги, возбуждать дело за причиненный ущерб, расторжение контракта, по контракту, исполнение договора в натуре.

4. Answer the questions.

1.What do you do if you can’t settle your complaint and a consumer agency has been unable to help?

2.When do you take your case to civil court?

3.How can minors sue?

4.What is criminal fraud? Give your own examples.

5. When are cases brought in the local civil trial court? Is it expensive?

6.What remedies can you ask for in civil court? Characterize each of them.

7.What is a suit for damages or specific performance designed for?

5. A) Look at the following sentences and say where we use Past Simple and where we use Present Perfect. Then fill the table.

1.They sued for damages a week ago.

2.My attorney has taken my case to court.

3.He has worked as a local prosecutor for 10 years.

4.The judge came back the courtroom and returned a verdict.

5.They have sentenced him to jail and he is on his way there.

6.In The Middle Ages one of the common penalties was death.

7.The court has settled 5 cases this morning.

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B) Translate the dialogs from Russian into English using Present Perfect. Use the situations from the text and make your own dialogs.

I

Клиент: Меня обманул мой строитель. Он взял 3000 долларов на покупку необходимого материала и исчез. Что мне делать?

Адвокат: Вам следует обратиться в суд. Я Вам помогу. Клиент: У меня есть шанс выиграть дело?

Адвокат: Конечно! Ваш строитель использовал классическую схему, чтобы получить ваши деньги. Он сознательно обманул Вас (представил все неверно). Это мошенничество.

II

Адвокат: Здравствуйте! Пожалуйста, проходите. Расскажите, что случилось.

Клиент: Я заказал пару ботинок через Интернет, но ее еще не доставили. Что мне делать?

Адвокат: Вам нужно обратиться в суд и потребовать исполнения договора в натуре. Суд обяжет компанию доставить ваши ботинки, но Вы все еще должны будете за них заплатить.

Revision of Part 1

A

I. Translate the sentences below from Russian into English using Passive Voice, relative clauses, modal verbs or Present Perfect.

1.Законы устанавливаются правительством, чтобы регулировать поведение людей в обществе.

2.Вы должны обратиться в суд, если Вы стали жертвой мошенничества.

3.Адвокат — это человек, который поможет Вам защитить ваши права.

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4.Мой брат только что приобрел на распродаже товары очень высокого качества.

5.Порядок в доиндустриальном обществе поддерживался системой правил.

6.Продавец не может предоставлять неверную информацию

окачестве товара.

7.Контракт — это соглашение, которое заключают продавец и покупатель.

8.Адвокат уже подал иск о причинении ущерба.

9.Потребителю всегда следует проверять товар перед покупкой.

II.Translate the following words and word combination from Russian into English.

1)Поддерживать порядок, 2) уголовное преступление, 3) защищать права человека, 4) самозащита, 5) вводить в заблуждение,

6)запрещать нечестную торговлю, 7) средство судебной защиты, 8) проступок, 9) возбуждать дело, 10) защищать потребителя

III.Translate the following part of the text from English into Russian and make 4 questions to the text.

Criminal laws regulate public conduct and set out duties owed to society. A criminal case is a legal action brought by the government against a person charged with committing a crime. Criminal laws have penalties and offenders are imprisoned, fined, placed under supervision, or punished in some other way. Criminal offences are divided into felonies and misdemeanors. The penalty for a felony is a term of more than one year in prison. For a misdemeanor, the penalty is a prison term of one year or less. Felonies are more serious crimes such as murder or robbery. Misdemeanors are less serious crimes such as simple assault or minor theft.

B

I. Translate the sentences below from Russian into English using Passive Voice, relative clauses, modal verbs or Present Perfect.

1. Поведение людей в обществе регулируется законом.

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2.Преступник — это человек, который совершил преступление.

3.Потребитель может вернуть товар, если не удовлетворен его качеством.

4.Продавец увеличил объем продаж и получил большую прибыль.

5.Федеральный закон обязан устанавливать стандарты качества товаров и услуг.

6.Средство судебной защиты — это действие суда, которое применяется за причинение вреда.

7.Закон и юридическая философия изучаются юриспруденцией.

8.Я работаю в агентстве и защищаю права потребителей уже семь лет.

9.Законы должны отражать и обеспечивать ценности общества.

II.Translate the following words and word combination from Russian into English.

1) Нарушитель, 2) защищать окружающую среду, 3) при определенных обстоятельствах, 4) кража, 5) страдать от последствий, 6) условия кредита, 7) информация о калорийности,

8)иметь равный доступ, 9) мошенничество, 10) возбуждать дело за причиненный ущерб.

III.Translate the following part of the text from English into Russian and make 4 questions to the text.

Civil laws regulate relations between individuals or groups of individuals. A civil action can be brought by a person who feels wronged or injured by another person. Courts may award the injured person money for the loss, or they may order the person who committed the wrong to make amends in some other way. An example of a civil action is a lawsuit for recovery of damages suffered in an automobile accident. Civil laws regulate many everyday situations, such as marriage, divorce, contracts, real estate, insurance, consumer protection, and negligence.

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Part 2

Text 8

Small Claims Court

(Imperative Mood)

1. Find out the meaning of the following words.

Small claims, amount of money, complaint, to sue, an award, to file a suit, a court clerk, to present a case, to incur a loss, hearing.

2. Read and translate the text.

Is there a small claims court in your community? If so, where is it located? What is the filing fee? What is the largest amount of money that can be awarded? Are lawyers permitted in this court?

In the early 20th century court reformers recognized that the typical civil court was too slow, expensive, and complicated for minor cases. These reformers proposed a “People’s Court” designed to give citizens their day in court for small claims.

Today, every state has a small claims court, where you can sue for small amounts of money. The maximum award varies depending on the state. Filing a suit in small claims court is very inexpensive. Attorneys are not required (in some states they are not allowed), and there are few time-consuming delays. Filing a suit in small claims court involves three general steps.

First, call or go to the local courthouse to discuss your case with the court clerk. The clerk will be able to determine if the court can handle your claim. If so, you’ll be required to fill out some forms and pay a small filing fee. To fill out the forms, known as a complaint or statement of claim, you’ll be asked for the name and address of the party you are suing, the reason for your complaint, and the amount you are asking for. The amount you ask for should be based on the loss you incurred.

Second, prepare for your case in advance. In most states, the court will notify the defendant of the date and place of the hearing. In the meantime, you should gather all the evidence necessary

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to present your case. This includes receipts, letters, canceled checks, sales slips and estimates of repair. If a defective product is involved, be sure to bring it along, if possible. Contact all witnesses to be sure they come to court. Uncooperative witnesses can be subpoenaed. This means they can be ordered to appear in court. If you have time, visit the court before your hearing so you’ll know what to expect. Also, practice presenting your case to a friend beforehand.

Third, be on time for court on the date scheduled for the hearing. If for any reason you can’t make it, call the court clerk to ask for a postponement called a continuance. Once your hearing begins, the judge will ask you to tell your story. Do this by presenting your facts, witnesses, and any evidence you may have. Don’t get emotional. Be prepared for questions from the judge. After both sides have presented their stories, the judge will make a decision.

3. Find the equivalents for the following words and expressions in the text.

Суд мелких тяжб, стоимость подачи заявки (иска), задержка, служащий суда, разбирать судебное дело, заполнить анкеты, некачественный (бракованный) товар, нести потери, подготовиться заранее, отложить слушание дела, не желающие сотрудничать свидетели, вызывать в суд повесткой, судья, вынести решение.

4. Answer the questions.

1.What are small claims courts? What do you know about their history?

2.What cases do they handle?

3.Are there such courts in Russia?

4.Is filing a suit in small claims court expensive?

5.Are attorneys in small claims courts required?

6.What are the steps for filing a suit in such courts?

7.How can you prepare for your case? Why is it important?

8.What can happen to uncooperative witnesses?

9.What should you do if you can’t be on time for the hearing?

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5. Look at the following sentences and say what the difference between them is. Then find more examples of the Imperative in the text and make your own sentences using the construction.

First, call or go to the local courthouse. Don’t get emotional.

6. Translate the following sentences into English.

1.В начале XX века гражданские суды работали слишком медленно и дорого стоили.

2.В настоящее время существуют суды мелких тяжб, специально предназначенные для разбирательства мелких дел.

3.Для подачи иска в суд мелких тяжб необходимо позвонить

вместный суд и обсудить проблему со служащим суда, затем заполнить документы и заплатить взнос.

4.Необходимо подготовить всю информацию к слушанию дела заранее: квитанции, письма, расчеты за ремонт, если возможно, принести бракованный товар.

5.Свяжитесь со всеми свидетелями и убедитесь, что они придут на суд.

6.Слушание дела было отложено на две недели.

7.После того как обе стороны высказались, судья вынес свое решение.

7. Prepare the retelling of the text, paying attention to the main concepts of the text and their definitions.

Text 9 Contracts

(There is / there are)

1. Find out the meaning of the following words.

Legally binding (valid) contract, to exchange something of value, parties, terms of a contract, sign a contract, consumers, deals, mentally ill, intoxicated, enter into a contract, minors, return goods.

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